• Tiredness, weakness, dizziness or light-headedness
• Cold hands and feet
• Sleep problems, vivid dreams or nightmares
• Nausea, diarrhoea or constipation
• Headache
• Slower heart rate
• Low blood pressure, which may cause faintness when standing

• Wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or an asthma attack
• Fainting, severe dizziness, confusion
• Very slow or irregular heartbeat
• Swelling of lips/tongue, hives, blistering rash, or trouble breathing
• Chest pain

• Propranolol can worsen asthma/COPD because it can cause bronchoconstriction. It is generally avoided in bronchial asthma.
• In diabetes, it can mask warning signs of low blood sugar, particularly a fast heartbeat.
• Avoid alcohol initially because it can add to dizziness and low blood pressure.
• Do not stop it suddenly without the prescriber’s advice, particularly if taken regularly for a heart condition or blood pressure.

Common side effects

• Tiredness or weakness
• Dizziness, especially when standing up
• Cold hands or feet
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or constipation
• Sleep disturbance, vivid dreams, or nightmares
• Slow heart rate or low blood pressure
• Reduced sexual performance in some people

Serious side effects - seek urgent care

• Wheezing, chest tightness, or difficulty breathing, especially if you have asthma
• Fainting, severe dizziness, very slow pulse, or irregular heartbeat
• New/worsening shortness of breath or swelling of legs
• Severe low blood sugar symptoms, especially in people with diabetes. Propranolol may hide the usual warning sign of a fast heartbeat.
• Face/lip/tongue swelling, widespread itchy rash, or trouble breathing, which may indicate allergy
• Chest pain